Brad Riekkoff, 27, placed first recently in the light heavyweight
division of the Naturalmania Nationals. Sponsored by the International Natural
Bodybuilding Federation (INBF), the competition consisted of 15 mens and womens'
bodybuilding and fitness classes; the more than 100 competitors came from across
the nation and several foreign countries. The competition was held in New York
on Sept. 21.

Accompanied by family and friends, Riekkoff earned his pro card at the
competition. As the winner in his weight class, he qualified for the Pro World
Natural Bodybuilding competition to be held in November in New York. After
placing seventh in the same competition last year in the middleweight division,
Riekkoff came back this year with more than nine pounds of muscle, bumping him
up to 182 pounds and into the light heavyweight class.

By training hard, never missing a workout and eating right, Riekkoff
developed the quality muscle mass that made the difference this year. "The
hard work paid off," said Riekkoff. "It was a great feeling to be able
to stand on stage with a world-class group of athletes and know that we achieved
this level of competition without the use of drugs." The
"Natural" in the Naturalmania Nationals means the competition is a
drug-free sanction. All winners are drug tested and undergo a polygraph to
ensure adherence to the drug-free status. Riekkoff, who has been training for
ten years and competing for five years, is a life-long drug-free athlete. In
preparing for the national competition, Riekkoff began training five months ago.
His daily workouts consisted of weight training and cardio exercise; he also ate
upwards of eight meals a day to increase body metabolism and to ensure the
proper intake of proteins and other nutrients. As a result of winning the INBF
light heavyweight title, Riekkoff will be featured in an upcoming issue of
Natural Bodybuilding as well as Exercise for Men. Given his growing reputation
in the sport of bodybuilding, he was recently asked to pose for a cover photo
for potential use by TIME magazine. While the resulting photo was not used, the
exposure and opportunity to work with noted TIME magazine photographer Howard
Schaltz was worth the experience along with the trip to New York for the photo
shoot. Riekkoff is the son of Wayne and Rose Riekkoff and Ann and Ike
Roell.Riekkoff attended Kewaskum High School; he is a heavy equipment operator
for Jansen Construction, Milwaukee. He currently trains at Pleasant Valley Gym
in West Bend.

Click
Here to SEE BRAD IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF
" Exercise
for Men Only"

Brad's November UpdateI am
now full speed ahead with my off-season training, which consists of lots of
heavy intense training and my favorite part eating more calories. I am now
eating 7 meals a day instead of 8, since I am eating more calories 7 meals
is enough nutrition to help me grow. The extra calories may add a little
unwanted weight but I feel very strong during my workouts, that is a key
factor to gaining size.

My goal is to gain at least enough lean muscle to get me into
the next weight class up from the middle weight which I now compete in. In order
to reach that goal I must gain 3 Ĺ lbs. by next years competition. I am
confident that I can reach that goal since I gained over 6 pounds of lean muscle
last year. Check out the new photo's we posted they show my progress while
dieting from 16-weeks to the week before the 2001 nationals.

16
Weeks Out

8
Weeks Out

Week
of Competition

Velvet Antler Feedback

First off I made an unbelievable
recovery from a nasty sprained ankle that I injured while jogging on a hiking
trail behind my condo. I was jogging in an attempt to stay some what lean for
one last photo shoot for the magazines. Well - the jog didn't get me very
far, just got me a spot on the injured bench. I was very discouraged and I
immediately iced my ankle and doubled my dosage of velvet antler. Amazingly
after one week the swelling went down to almost normal and I could walk without
a limp.

My next bit of feed back is from a
co-worker of mine who had pains in his upper chest due to arthritis. After
taking velvet antler for just 3-weeks he claimed that his pains were completely
gone and was making some amazing gains on the treadmill.

The last bit of feedback is from one of my trainers
clients, he experienced some noticeable energy gains while using the oral velvet
antler spray. Well that's about all I have for now take care,

INBF National competitor Brad Riekkoff

Brads
September 23 Update

Well, as you most likely already read
from the latest update,

I am now
nationally ranked #7

in the
International Natural Bodybuilding Federation's Middle Weight Division.

My class consisted of 16 men from all
over the nation, mostly U.S. citizens. Every competitor was in excellent shape
and had a great physique, which made the competition unbelievable. I came off
the stage wishing I had placed higher but proud of my placing and ready to start
my off season training for next year. OH YEAH! Did I forget to mention I also
walked off the stage ready to eat?! No worries I was prepared for that way ahead
of time! I had a bag packed full of goodies to warm me up for the pizza that was
waiting for me at a restaurant close by.

I was fortunate to meet some very unique people from all over the world
and made some new ties and connections to the fitness industry. It's always
exciting to hear other people=s
opinions and goals. I also had two photo shoots for the following magazines: Natural
Bodybuilding and Fitness, Men's Exercise, and Exercise for Men Only.
It looks like I may get some coverage and possibly a cover shot! I will let
everyone know when I hear back from the publishing company.

I would like to give thanks to my family and friends, Meadow Creek Elk
Farms, my trainer- Ian Mcaskall, and my WNBF Pro friend, Corey Wheir for all
their help and support!

I also better thank my two good buddies Andy Reichert and Chad Rochwite
for putting up with me on those critical days before the show. Even though they
had fun testing my will power by stopping at McDonalds just to go to the
bathroom. YEAH sure! as I waited by the car for them they both came out smiling
each with a big bag of food that I was fortunate enough to smell and drool over
for the rest of the ride as we drove from Andy=s
home in Mass. to New York City........... Thanks Guys!!!

Well the show was over and we were scheduled to fly out Tuesday at 12:30.
We had plans to leave the city and return Tuesday to fly out, but the photo
shoot lasted longer than planned so we stayed in the city for the remainder of
the trip.

Tuesday morning came and I was down in the Harbor Cafť, feeding my face
with some cheese cake (fat &calorie free of course!) when the HORRIBLE World
Trade Center disaster occurred! I was less than six blocks away and witnessed
the whole thing what a disaster! I took lots of photos which I wouldn't have
needed to take a single one to remember that day. I think the sound of the
buildings exploding and crumbling to the ground will be imprinted in my head for
life! Well I now need to quit eating all the goodies and get back to my
training. I write back againsoon.
Brad

Brad takes 7th Place in Middle Weight Division at
Naturalmania Nationals in New York City............

but what he saw on Tuesday in lower Manhattan will forever be remembered
as a frightening day for him and Chad Rochwhite as they witnessed the
devastation caused by the terrorist attack on America.

A complete report and Bradís results from Naturalmania Nationals will be
posted later this week when Brad returns to Wisconsin.

In a phone call on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, Brad stated that
he was safe in New Jersey, but told of the dreadful ordeal of the twin towers
destruction that he witnessed from his hotel, located only six blocks away.

Brad told of the panic and fear as he eye witnessed thousands of people flee
the city on the Brooklyn bridge, running for their lives.

Brad and Chadís plans to depart, by plane, at 12:30 from New York changed
as the morningís events unfolded. During the first few hours after the attack
took place, there was mass confusion as to what to do or where to go. By early
Tuesday afternoon, they boarded a ferry to Jersey where they met a woman who
invited them to accompany her to her home in New Jersey. After a bus and subway
ride they finally reached their destination and felt relieved that they had
arrived safely to the residential area.

Brad and Chad will be returning by automobile to the West Bend area in the
next few days, and additional reports will be posted at that time.

Follow Brad as prepares for the Naturalmania Nationals in New York on September 8, 2001.

Editor's Note: As Brad enters his last few weeks of contest
training for the International Natural Bodybuilding Federation's(INBF)
Naturalmania Nationals in New York on September 8th, we want to congratulate him
on his dedication and determination which he has shown during his pre-contest
training. We thank Brad for sharing his progress during the past 16 weeks of his
training regimen and wish him continued success as he competes for the
championship. We also are proud of Bradís personal accomplishments and
achievements he has received, and commend him for choosing to be a natural
bodybuilder, free of steroids and drugs, using self discipline and hard work to
accomplish his goals. Youíre a winner already Brad, and good luck in obtaining
the title you
deserve.
Bob and Diana Susen

Bradís August 25th update

With three weeks left until competition, this maybe my last update until
after the show. We will see how hectic my schedule is. Itís actually 2 Ĺ
weeks until I leave for New York with a lot of training, planning and packing to
do!

As afar as my condition - we are real close to being on schedule. Although I
guess itís normal to be nervous, I am a bit nervous that my legs wonít be
lean enough. If things go as planned it should be right on schedule. I hope!

You canít target fat loss and as I mentioned in recent updates - I carry my
last bit of fat in my legs. With no fat left in my upper body, the fat I loose
in the next three weeks should all be off my legs. At 1 Ĺ lbs. a week, we
should come in right on target. Another individual could have a higher body fat
content and look leaner than I because their body fat could be more evenly
spread throughout their body - this makes the competition very tough!! I just
have to stick to my diet and training and survive for the next three weeks.

Iím still on the same dosage of velvet antler and I believe the glucosomine
in this product is benefitting me, as my joints feel great. You see when your
bodyfat is so low your joints suffer a bit. Your body uses fat as one of the
sources of lubrication and support for your joints. So this is a very important
time to consider the nutrition support for the structure and function of your
joints.

Well, I have a lot of food to prepare and a lot of training to do talk to you
soon.

BRADS JULY 31st
UPDATE

Well my cheat meal and carb up days are gone for a while. The next two weeks
are going to be brutal. For weeks 7 & 8 I get is one serving of a complex
carb for breakfast and that=s it!! Now
is when you really need will power, specially when there is a bake sale full of
pastries and torts right next to the job that I=m
working on and in the same day a co-worker buys pizza for the whole crew because
it=s his birthday. Everyone is
indulging while I pull a tupperware container out of my lunch pail with plain
tuna and broccoli! That takes a lot of dedication let me tell you!

COREY WHEIR AND BRAD RIEKOFF

One thing that has really given me drive the past few weeks is the
opportunity I was given to work with NBF Pro Corey Wheir. Corey is a nationally
known, life long Drug Free Bodybuilder. Corey is incredible, he has more
drive behind him to succeed , and at the same time helps others to succeed, more
than anyone I have ever met! He is known across the country from coverage such
as being on the cover of Time magazine to being sponsored and spokes person for
Nature=s Best supplements. Corey is
featured in the current August issue of Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness magazine.
Having this opportunity to work with Corey on weight training, conditioning and
posing has given me that extra push to make it through another week of hard
training and dieting. It gives you a mid set that is unstoppable!!

This last week my dosage of velvet antler changed. I decided to add one more
capsule. My dosage is now 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. I felt as through I needed more. I
won=t kid you I started to feel pretty
low on energy the last two weeks. Even with the mind set from Corey and the
velvet antler behind me, I could still use a kick in the butt every once in a
while.

Well, I made it through the hardest part of the diet and now coming into week
6 I have a whole new tri-phase diet and workout. I will have three days of low
carbohydrates, two days high carbs, and two days of moderate carbs, plus two 45
minute cardio sessions morning and evening Monday thru Wednesday, off Thursday
and Friday then one 45 minute session morning Saturday and Sunday along with six
days of weight training, all in one week. That will put me on my way to a great
physique.

I made the decision to take off work Friday and travel to Evansville Indiana
to compete in the Mid-American Muscle Classic. I will not be at my target weight
or as lean as I could be, but it will tighten up my condition and help me brush
up on my posing. You can spend so much time on diet and training, but if you can=t
pose properly you will not finish as well as you deserve! So proper posing is
very important. I haven=t been on
stage for over a year, so practice will do me good. You never know the outcome,
but if I would win my weight class and the whole show, I could possibly be
invited to compete in the Pro-Division in New York this September. We shall See.
- I=ll keep you posted in two weeks.

BRAD'S JULY 17, 2001 UPDATE

At the start of week ten, my trainer instructed me to drop
another one of my complex carbs out of my meal plan. So for the next two weeks,
2 of my 8 meals will have complex carbs in them. In exchange for the serving of
carbohydrates we added a dressing made of different fats and oils. My body will
use that for energy when it uses up my carbohydrates. If you don=t
raise your fat intake when you lower your carbohydrates this low there is more
of a chance you will burn muscle instead of fat! And we don=t
want that!

I am currently at the same dosage of velvet antler since my energy levels
have been bearable, so it must be helping some! We=ll
see how that changes from week 8 to 6 when we lower to one complex carb per day!

My weight loss is still on schedule. This part of the diet is real crucial to
keeping your protein levels high, as you need everything you can get to repair
and maintain that hard earned muscle. The rule of thumb for a natural body
builder is 1.5 to 2 grams of protein per lb. of body weight. I take in
approximately 37 grams per meal of protein.

I suppose this lifestyle doesn=t
sound real exciting! I won=t kid you,
it gets to me once in a while, but you have to keep pushing!! You have to
remember someone else out there is working just as hard as you, and if you back
off and just ease through it all that=s
exactly what you will get in the end. You=ll
finish at the end! If you stay persistent and work hard the finish line will be
the most exciting part! I did have some excitement at the end of week 9. I got
to cheat on one meal and then I loaded up with carbs for the next two days. I
looked forward to that special meal all week, and it was great. For now it=s
back to tuna and lettuce!!

BRAD'S JUNE 26TH UPDATE

I am approaching 11 weeks out and everything is pretty close to be on
schedule. I lost 3 Ĺ to 4 lbs. in the last two weeks. I am now 12-15 lbs. off
my target weight. The target weight is always a guess because you donít know
how much muscle you gained since you dieted last. The best way to tell is melt
the fat off and weight yourself. Sounds easy! I wish it was that easy! A natural
bodybuilder gains 5-10 lbs. a year with a lot of hard work and dedication to
their diet and training. If someone tells you different, theyíre either full
of it or they gained fat or water weight, not muscle! Remember I said an average
so give or take a few lbs.

The last two weeks my trainer had me lower my intake of complex carbs and Iím
feeling the effects, since complex carbs (rice, potatoes, oatmeal & breads)
are your bodies main source of stored energy. Iím now eating complex carbs
three out of my eight meals. Next week my trainer will lower that to two meals
and then one meal depending on my progress. Gee, I canít wait!! My meals are
all precisely planned before each week, so Iím lucky if I get to eat off the
same menu all week long! (Almost as god as going to McDonalds, well almost !

I havenít cheated yet, knock on wood. Weíll see how long I hold out
before I grab a cookie right out of someone hand and inhale it!

Since I was feeling that I had a little less energy, I increased my dosage of
velvet antler this week, hoping to squeeze everything I can out of this nifty
product of nature. Iím now taking four capsules in the morning and five
capsules before my P.M. workout.

Now I need to get some sleep! I always short myself in this department and itís
crucial that I get my sleep at this point. You will hear from me again in two
weeks. I will then be approaching 9 weeks out at that point.

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2001

As of today, I am three weeks into my contest training with thirteen weeks to
go until the show in New York. Training is going good, and my diet is just
getting started. So far a few small changes in my diet and cardio sessions has
lead to 9-10 lbs. of weight loss (we hope that=s
all fat loss.) The reason for dieting for such a long period is so we can save
as much muscle as possible. You always loose muscle when you diet, so we try to
minimize the muscle loss by slowly peeling off the fat. The first 10 lbs came
off fairly easy, maybe I=m just saying
that cause I know what=s yet to come.
The first 2 - 4 weeks you usually loose the most weight as you get closer to
your target weight it gets harder and harder to carve off the fat. I started my
diet at a lean 208-210 lbs. and my target weight is around 176lbs. Which is the
top of the Middle Weight Division.

Sounds crazy, but within one month after the show, unless I=m
staying lean to do another show or photo shoot, I=ll
be within 10 lbs of my starting weight again!

This week my training consist of 4 weight training
sessions
60-90 minutes long and 5 cardio sessions50
minutes long. As the contest date creeps closer everything will get more
intense. Cardio sessions will multiply and the diet will change slowly until
about 6-8 weeks from the show depending on my condition. At that time I will
start to cycle carbohydrates. This is where I will drop the carbohydrates to
basically none and then introduce them back again. This part of the diet get=s
really hard!!

Velvet antler will really take it=s
part at this time. Supplying my muscles with blood that has increased oxygen
carrying capacity which helps my strength and endurance. The velvet antler will
also help my muscles to repair themselves after intense training.

I have been taking velvet antler now for about 2 2
months. Before I started taking velvet antler I had a cold I could not shake.
The cold now hasn=t come back. I have
also noticed that I have been in better moods and the soreness after training
seems to have lessened. Besides the many advantages velvet antler has to offer
the greatest part of the supplement is that it is all natural. In order to
compete in the International Body Building Federation (INBF), you must be 100%
drug free. In the past two years the Federation has even banned over the counter
testosterone boosters and many of the supplements that you can buy at a health
food store. All INBF athletes are polygraphed tested before the show and after
the show the top 3 placers are urine tested. So velvet antler being all natural
adds to the list of barely any supplements that I can take to boost my
performance and recovery.

You will hear from me again in two weeks for another update.

Background - From Kewaskum Wisconsin, Brad is a heavy equipment operator.
When not driving bull-dozers, Brad is pumping iron in preparation for the
Naturalmania Nationals in New York on September 8, 2001. In 1998 Brad became
interested in bodybuilding and became one of the increasing popular athletics
who are dedicated to a completely drug-free lifestyle and joined the
International Natural Bodybuilding Federation. Competing for the past three
years, Bradís impressive records includes the following:

Pre-Contest Training - On May 26, 2001, Brad will start his 16 week
pre-contest training. Working with his personal trainer from Montreal Canada,
Brad will intensify his training and supplementation in preparation for the INBF
Naturalmania National Competition in New York on September 8, 2001. Visit our
website often as we follow Bradís pre-contest training.